A Harris County judge on Monday denied bond for 18-year-old Aundre Matthews, the student accused of fatally stabbing his classmate and friend, Andrew Meismer, at Ross S. Sterling High School.
New court testimony Monday offered a detailed account of the violent incident, providing new information from witness on the moments immediately following the stabbing.
READ MORE: Bond denied for student accused of killing Baytown classmate over missing THC vape pen
During the hearing, Judge Emily DeToto described photos from the crime scene as “pretty bad” and said it seemed to be a “horrible struggle”
“It could have been much worse,” DeToto said, mentioning that hundreds of children were around.
Cory Scott, a criminal investigator with Goose Creek CISD Police, testified that he arrived at the school between 12:15 and 12:30 p.m. after being alerted to a stabbing in a classroom.
Scott told the judge he observed “copious amounts of blood” on the floor, tables, and walls, evidence of a brutal altercation between Matthews and Meismer.
Scott described seeing Matthews covered in blood and reportedly smiling.
Footage recorded by KPRC 2 from Wednesday’s hearing captured Matthews calmly nodding his head as Scott explained surveillance footage logistics from the school.
The teacher who intervened during the fight told Scott that he had to physically restrain Matthews, including grabbing and twisting Matthews’ nose to get him to finally release Meismer from a chokehold.
Students also provided statements describing the chaotic scene. One student said they saw the fight unfold with “copious amounts of blood” while teachers attempted to intervene. A student witness also claimed that Matthews, while being restrained after the stabbing, began licking his fingers.
OUR FIRST REPORT: Student dies after being stabbed with scissors in classroom at high school in Baytown
A special education teacher who escorted Matthews out of the classroom testified that Matthews told him, “He owed me money, he stole from me, so I stabbed him.”
The confrontation reportedly began over a missing $21 THC vape pen, which Matthews accused Meismer of stealing.
The disagreement escalated into a physical altercation in the classroom, where Matthews allegedly stabbed Meismer in the neck with scissors. Meismer was pronounced dead from the puncture wound several hours later.
Scott also told the judge that students in Goose Creek CISD have been upset with the district since the incident. They are questioning the school’s security and safety, and don’t feel that officials provided sufficient information on the incident in its aftermath.
During Wednesday’s hearing, Scott added that he does not believe a school lockdown was necessary for the situation.
Matthews’ defense attorney, Gianpaolo Macerola, also spoke to Scott in the hearing. During cross-examination, Scott said he had no personal knowledge of what happened in the classroom outside of the witness accounts and reported evidence, and he has not seen any video of the attack itself.
Macerola has maintained that Matthews acted in self-defense, claiming fear due to Meismer’s size and saying Meismer struck him first. Surveillance footage, however, shows the two teens are approximately the same size.
Matthews has no prior criminal history, his defense attorney said. Scott also said he has no knowledge of Matthews being part of the special education program.
Despite the reported lack of criminal records, prosecutors argued that school records showed Matthews had a history of violent conduct that included fights, bringing a kitchen knife to school, and “inappropriate conduct time and time again.”
Matthews remains in custody at the Harris County Jail.
MORE ON ANDREW MEISMER: ‘I didn’t get to hold him’: Girlfriend identifies victim in deadly stabbing at Baytown high school